Under the Whispering Door

“‘[T]his has been an awful inconvenience. I have clients. I have a brief due by the end of the week that can’t be delayed!’ He groaned, mind racing. ‘[…] Do you know who I am? Because if you do, then you know I don’t have time for this. I have responsibilities, yes, extremely important responsibilities that can’t be ignored.’”

This quote illustrates Wallace’s priorities, which seem ridiculous when put into the perspective of his recent death. Nelson follows this outburst by confirming that Wallace Price wants to be alive so he can work, not because of friends, family, or any other personal connections, emphasizing that Wallace lived solely for his job. This quote also shows how Wallace views himself as someone who is “extremely important” compared to Nelson and Mei, even though he has no idea where he is or what is happening to him.

“‘Your expectations changed. You should have unexpected it.’ He tapped the side of his head. ‘It’s all about your mind and how you focus it.’”

Nelson often delivers somewhat nonsensical words of wisdom. He helps Wallace adjust to being a ghost, but he refuses to do so in a professional, straightforward manner, which irritates Wallace until he grows to appreciate it. His advice to Wallace here, though specifically about moving objects as a ghost, also applies much more broadly to his views on life and death. Nelson always advocates for unexpecting the expected as he has learned that experiencing the moment is far more important than trying to meet expectations.

“‘It comes from the earth,’ Hugo said quietly. ‘Energy. Life. Death. All of it. We rise and we fall and then we rise once more. We’re all on different paths, but death doesn’t discriminate. It comes for everyone. It’s what you do with it that sets you apart.’”

The processes of the universe are left intentionally vague in Under the Whispering Door. Here, Hugo Freeman highlights how everyone is connected by the experience of humanity while also maintaining their own individuality, a concept that is crucial to his work as a Ferryman. This quote also emphasizes how much Wallace needs to learn in order for him to grow as a character and be able to cross over.

“Maybe it’s just me, but I think I’d feel relieved finding out there are things I don’t know about. It can’t be healthy the other way, you know?”

Mei offhandedly criticizes Wallace’s constant search for answers he will never receive. Mei chooses to live in the moment and have faith in the order of the universe. Wallace, on the other hand, relentlessly gathers the information he needs no matter the cost. The concept of the unknown is frequently referenced throughout the novel, with the underlying message being that there are some things humans will never understand. It takes characters like Wallace until the end of the novel to recognize this.

“Death isn’t a final ending, Wallace. It is an ending, sure, but only to prepare you for a new beginning.”

This quote highlights the theme of The Transitory Nature of Life, suggesting that life never ends but instead changes over time. Wallace struggles with this idea, and due to this, he is unsure whether his actions after his death have any value. Mei comforts Wallace with these words, showing the necessity of empathy even for those who have made poor decisions.

“‘I’m not really here,’ he whispered. ‘You are, Wallace.’ Three words, and Wallace wasn’t sure he’d ever heard anything more profound. ‘Am I?’ ‘Yes.’”

This exchange between Wallace and Hugo continues Hugo’s assurance of The Transitory Nature of Life and reaffirms his belief that Wallace’s life, even after death, still matters. This concept is emphasized throughout the novel, particularly in relation to Wallace, who goes through a small crisis over how he spent his life and fears that he is no longer capable of doing anything meaningful. Simple yet profound truths such as this one permeate the novel, ultimately convincing Wallace of his own inherent value as a person.

“‘For someone who’s a Ferryman, there’s a lot you don’t know.’ Hugo chuckled. ‘Isn’t it great? I’d hate to know everything. There’d be no mystery left. What would be the point?’”

Much like Mei, Hugo expresses relief at not knowing everything there is to know about the universe. While Mei approached the topic from a point of not stressing about uncontrollable things, Hugo embraces the idea of the unknown. His easy attitude helps Wallace begin to embrace the lack of control he has in death, a big adjustment from his position of power and authority in life. This concept becomes especially important toward the end of the novel when it is revealed that not even the Manager knows everything there is to know about the afterlife.

“‘I…don’t know?’ His own words confused him. There were many, many things he wanted, but each sounded more trivial than the last. And that was the rub, wasn’t it? A life built upon inconsequential things made important simply because he desired them to be.”

Wallace’s realization that he does not know what he wants for the remainder of his time on Earth shows how much Wallace has learned about what is actually important in life. This quote concisely highlights one of the greatest lessons Wallace has to learn in death: The Importance of Connection. This idea is one Hugo regrets not learning sooner, and his later actions are shaped by his efforts to make up for the time he “wasted” in life.

“They came to me because I’m the one who’s supposed to help them. But no matter what I say, no matter what I do, they can’t listen. And I don’t blame them for that. […] And though I’m surrounded by death, I can never understand what it does to a person because I’ve never died.”

Though Hugo personally enjoys the mysteries of the universe, this quote shows how he simultaneously feels anxiety about things he can’t relate to. Hugo understands that the ghosts he meets expect him to have all of the answers, believing that he will fully understand their plight. Hugo, however, is acutely aware of the knowledge he lacks. He knows that there is only so much he can do for the dead, but as an empathetic person, it hurts him to watch them suffer in confusion and pain.

“Hugo knocked his head back against the railing softly. ‘But isn’t that life? We second-guess everything because it’s in our nature. People with anxiety and depression just tend to do it more.’”

Mental illness and neurodiversity are minor themes in Under the Whispering Door, and Klune addresses them in this quote. Hugo’s frequent second-guessing of himself is one of Hugo’s primary character flaws; despite the good he does, Hugo carries many regrets and often dwells on things he could have done better. Wallace helps him by being there for him and offering Hugo an alternative perspective on himself, the way Hugo does for him.

“‘Angry, isn’t he? It’s odd, really. The universe is bigger than one can possibly imagine, a truth beyond comprehension, and yet all he knows is anger and hurt. Pain and suffering.’ He sighed, shaking his head. ‘I’ll never understand, no matter how hard I try. It’s illogical.’”

The Manager’s description of Alan Flynn conveys his inability to understand humans as a whole. While this description is about Alan, it is likely the Manager also intended it to resonate with Wallace who acted much like Alan when he arrived at the tea shop. The Manager invalidates Alan’s feelings and experiences, which Wallace later takes pains to show are valid because to be human is to be scared.

“‘Are you God?’ Wallace choked out. The boy laughed. It sounded like he was singing. ‘No. Of course not. There is no God, at least not like you’re thinking. He’s a human construct, one capable of great peace and violent wrath. It’s a dichotomy only found in the human mind, so of course he’d be made in your image. But I’m afraid he’s nothing but a fairy tale in a book of fiction. The truth is infinitely more complicated than that.’”

Wallace struggles with the idea of letting go of preconceived notions in death. He asks several times if there is a God and assumes both Nelson and Hugo are God at different times, and does the same with the Manager here. Under the Whispering Door never advocates for one system of beliefs about the afterlife and, much like the Manager in this quote, Klune is vague about how the universe functions in his novel. However, many elements throughout the story suggest a structure beyond what the characters know; the Manager’s “title” is a playful nod at the concept of a supernatural office hierarchy.

“It doesn’t seem like much from the outside, does it? A queer house made up of many different ideas. They should clash. They should crumble to the foundation. It shouldn’t stand as it does, and yet you don’t fear the ceiling collapsing onto your head.”

The Manager’s description of the tea shop highlights its symbolism within the novel and its representation of the complicated principles of life and death. While the fragile structure of the universe should crumble and clash, it does not collapse because humanity has faith in it. This quote also parallels Wallace’s first instinct about the tea shop that it would collapse on him and his surprise at finding it both sturdy and welcoming.

“It’s a choice, Wallace. It all comes down to choice. I didn’t force Hugo to do anything. I merely laid out the options before him and let him make up his own mind.”

The Manager has little regard for human feelings, and his focus is only on order and logic. The Manager thinks that Hugo chose to become a Ferryman of his own free will, yet Wallace sees how he was coerced into making that choice because the Manager took advantage of his turbulent emotions just after the death of his parents. The Manager’s assumption illustrates how black-and-white his view of humanity is and emphasizes just how important it is to empathize with others and see the shades of gray. This is a notable reflection of Wallace’s lack of empathy early in the novel, and Wallace, who has undergone significant growth by the time he meets the Manager, is appalled by the unfeeling mindset he sees.

“‘So we only have free will until…what? It interferes with your order?’ The Manager chuckled. ‘Precisely! Good for you, Wallace. Order is absolutely paramount. Without it, we’d be stumbling in the dark.’”

Wallace is often offended by hypocrisy, including his own, and so is especially irate once he learns of the Manager’s true thoughts on free will. Though the Manager is firm about the importance of order, his shifting stance on free will ironically shows the lack of order and control he has over the universe. This comes into play again at the end of the novel, when Wallace is not made to cross over after all.

“‘I realized that you’re an aberration. A flaw in the system that’s worked so well. And what does one do with flaws as someone in charge, Wallace? To keep the things running as they should?’ Fire them. Remove them from the equation. Replace the part so the machine can run smoothly. Distantly, Wallace thought of Patricia Ryan, sitting across from him in his office.”

This quote highlights Wallace’s hypocrisy when he is forced to come to terms with the consequences of his actions. The Manager uses Wallace’s own logic against him to support his choice to send Wallace through the door against his will. In the first chapter of the novel, it is said that Wallace never thinks about Patricia, the woman he heartlessly fired, again; the fact that he remembers her now indicates just how much growth he has undergone.

“The sadness receded, though it didn’t leave entirely. It still bubbled underneath the surface, but he floated on top of it now. This was a different kind of grief, he knew, but it was still his all the same. He accepted that. What will you do with the time you have left? And that’s when he knew.”

Grief underlies the entirety of Under the Whispering Door, yet it is brought to the forefront only at certain times. Just like life, the grief characters like Wallace experience does not end even when they are enjoying their time together or focused on other things; it merely changes and moves on. On the ​​Kübler-Ross Model, Wallace here has reached acceptance. He is no longer in denial or angry about his circumstances. He is, instead, ready to do good with the rest of his time on earth.

“It’s never enough, is it? Time. We always think we have so much of it, but when it really counts, we don’t have enough at all.”

This quote ironically comes from Nelson, who has yet to cross over years after his death. Wallace’s time at the tea shop has served as a second life, affirming Hugo’s assertion that life does not end but merely moves on. Unlike in life, Wallace is aware that his time is running out; however, this means that he is acutely aware of everything important that he has yet to do.

“Wallace reached for the hook, hesitating briefly. ‘I see it now. It’s not always about the things you’ve done, or the mistakes you’ve made. It’s about the people, and what we’re willing to do for one another. The sacrifices we make. They taught me that. Here, in this place.’”

For most of the novel, Wallace fears that the choices and mistakes he made during his life forever define him as a person. Yet here, as he sees Cameron’s choices, Wallace recognizes that he hadn’t been focusing on what really matters. This moment is critical as it marks Wallace’s full transformation from a selfish and uncaring man to one who understands the value and necessity of caring for others.

“Remember what I told you about need versus want? We don’t need you because that implies you had to fix something in us. We were never broken. We want you, Wallace. Every piece. Every part. Because we’re family. Can you see the difference?”

At the beginning of the novel, Wallace had little understanding of what it meant to be part of a family. Wallace only has brief memories of happy connections with his parents and his ex-wife; for the most part, his life was not defined by interpersonal relationships. It is only within his found family at the tea shop that Wallace truly understands what it means to belong to a group of people. Wallace once focused on what other people could do for him, but now, he knows that wanting someone to be a part of your life is just as important, if not more.

“‘Every step forward is a step closer to home.’ ‘Then why is it so hard?’ ‘Because that’s life,’ Wallace said.”

This excerpt from a conversation between Wallace and Cameron just before Cameron’s crossing is another example of the simple truths of life espoused throughout the novel. Even with the certainty that his loved ones are waiting for him on the other side of the door, Cameron is afraid to cross over because change is a frightening thing. The fact that Wallace is the one to comfort him, despite how long he has lingered at the tea shop himself, shows how much Wallace has learned about the nature of life and death.

“He still had regrets. He thought he always would. Nothing could be done about that now. He’d found within himself the man he had thought he’d become before the heaviness of life had descended upon him. He was free. The shackles of a mortal life had fallen away. There was nothing holding him here. Not anymore. It hurt, but it was a good hurt.”

By the time he must cross over, Wallace has reconciled with both versions of himself: the cold, ambitious man he was in life, and the caring, earnest man he is in death. He has begun to understand the importance of living in the moment rather than fixating on the past or future. Although Wallace does not want to leave Hugo and his tea shop found family, Wallace has accomplished what he set out to do with his final week: He has helped other people and made the meaningful differences he didn’t make in life.

“‘But that’s par for the course with existing, because life is senseless, and on the off chance we find something that does make sense, we hold onto it as tightly as we can. I found myself because of you. But you pale in comparison to Mei. To Nelson. Apollo.’ He swallowed thickly. ‘And Hugo.’”

Wallace speaks this line to the Manager, who he partially gives credit to for helping him find himself. He acknowledges that the Manager’s firm stance on logic and order pushed him to truly reflect on himself and do the important things he wanted to do; however, he emphasizes The Importance of Connection by acknowledging the value of his bonds with the tea shop family. Wallace also validates any seemingly “senseless” emotions and choices made by humans, refuting the Manager’s views on how illogical humans can be. His defiance of someone who once frightened him with unknowability shows his progress in accepting the unknown.